Players get opportunity to ditch hand controllers
MICROSOFT’S NEXT big thing in computer gaming, Xbox Kinect was released yesterday.
Demonstrators were on-hand at stores around the State this week to introduce customers to the new technology which senses players’ body movement rather than relying on controllers. Customers in Blanchardtown’s PC World/Currys store were certainly impressed with the device.
“It was really good on first impression; it got kind of addictive once I had started. It copied all my movements really well,” said Kenneth Matildo who enjoyed the freedom of no hand controller.
“It makes so much difference, you don’t have to multitask, you just play.”
While everyone walked away looking impressed with the Kinect, some thought the €150 price tag was too much.
“If I had the money I would definitely buy it, but it really is an extra that means you use your body instead of a remote and I don’t think that is worth €150,” said Ola Akesan.
But there was a general feeling of experiencing something new at the Dublin store with all the excitement and awkwardness that comes with that.
Volunteers were slow to step forward and wave at a television screen but once they did, groups were quick to stop and stare at the proceedings.
Instead of looking at the game, customers were watching the players as they jumped, stepped and slapped like giddy children.
People genuinely seemed to enjoy the novelty of controlling an avatar on screen by just body movement but some remained sceptical that it would overtake traditional button-pressing games.
“I liked it and there weren’t any real bad things about it but you just feel more in control with a normal game where you have a controller,” said Darryl Kelly after trying the Kinect for the first time.
Mark Howard the general manager of the store believes that controller-free gaming will prove popular with the wider public.
“It will be the single biggest Christmas gift. All age groups have tried the demos we’ve been running. Younger ones pick it up like it is second nature. Older people, while a bit apprehensive at first, are blown away by it once they are used to it,” Mr Howard said.
The lack of control that gamers such as Darryl bemoaned is something that demonstrator Matt McDermott believes will change with time.
“It is like using a new mobile phone. At first it feels awkward because you are used to something different but after a couple of weeks it becomes much easier,” Mr McDermott said.
Games available for Kinect on release include Dance Central, where players score points by copying on-screen dance moves, the multi-event Kinect Sports, and Kinectimals, where young children get to adopt lions and tigers.
Kinect faces competition from Sony’s PlayStation Move controller and Nintendo’s upgraded WiiMotion Plus but by being totally controller free, Microsoft will be hoping it will give a boost to sales of its older Xbox 360 console. Microsoft’s gaming unit lost $8 billion ($5.8 billion) before turning its first profit in 2008.
